Wrench.



M. G. BERSTED.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1908.

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

.. WASHINGYDNE n. c.

MARTIN C. BERSTED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WRENCH.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN C. BERSTED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in /Vrenches, of which the following is'a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates more particularly to nut wrenches of the class provided with adjustable jaws, and it has for one of its objects to provide improved and simple means for adjusting the handle with relation to the jaws whereby it may be placed in a more advantageous position when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the handle may be used as a ratchet lever without interfering with the adjustability of the jaws.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and simple means whereby the handle may be made to perform this ratchet action in either direction at will.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the ratchet mechanism may be locked against operation at the will of the user.

With a View to the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of certain other objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts comprising the invention, an example of which will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and will then be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying this invention, showing the jaws adjusted to a difierent position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a portion thereof taken on the line 41- 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the ratchet or looking bar thrown out of engagement. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the reversing knob for'holding the pawl or locking dog in its various positions, and Fig. 8 is a detail face View of a cap hereinafter described. r

1 is the handle, which isprovided at one end with a body portion 1 provided interiorly with a suitable bearing, is preferably Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 29,

Patented Nov. 8, 1910.

1908. Serial No. 445,870.

wounded or circular on its exterior. The interior of this annulus or ring 1 forms a bearing or housing for a journal or stud 3 rotatably mounted in the bearing ring 1 in such manner as to permit the free angular adjustment in either direction between the journal and the hearing. The stud or journal 3 is formed integrally with or rigidly secured to a jaw 2, which may be regarded as the fixed jaw of the wrench, the immediate connection between the jaw 2 and the stud or journal 3 being constituted by a body or enlargement 3 upon which the journal 3 is integrally formed, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. This body 3 is provided with a passage complementary in shape to the form of the cross section of a shank 4 of a second jaw 5, which is the adjustable jaw and which is capable of being moved back and forth with relation to the jaw 2 by means of a worm 6, or other suitable device accessible to the thumb of the operator and having its threads engaging in complementary grooves or threads 7 formed in the shank 4, which slides under the worm in a position below or to one side of the plane of the handle 1, as better shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The jaws are thus made rotatably adjustable on the handle in the central plane of the jaws, which plane is to be understood as being midway between the lateral faces of the awe and parallel to the plane of the drawing according to the showing made in Figs. 1 and 2. The stud or projection 3 is formed with a passage or slot 8 in its upper or outer end, which opens into the passage containing the shank 4:, and which receives and houses the worm 6 when in place, but the worm is mounted upon a pin or axle 9 having its ends arranged in two lugs 11 secured to or formed on a cap 12 and being equal in Width to the width of the slot or passage 8, and adapted to fit accurately thereinto, and to hold the worm 6 in engagement with the shank 4L when the ring or cap 12 is fitted over the outer or upper end of the stud 3. When the parts are thus fitted together, the outward pro jecting portions of the stud 3 fit accurately w1th1n the cap 12 at the sides of the lugs 11, so that these projecting portions of the stud 3 in conjunction with the lugs 11, hold the rmg or cap 12 against rotation on the stud 3, while the cap. holds the projections of the stud firmly in position with relation to the lugs 11 and prevents them from spreading, while the annulus or body 1 is held in place on the stud 3 by the overlapping relation of the cap 12, as indicated in Figs. 3 and a. After the parts are assembled, the cap 12 may be held against displacement by upsetting the outer projecting portions of the stud 3 adjacent to the edge of the cap 12, these surfaces being flush, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The worm 6 rotates about an axis parallel to the central plane of the jaws, which axis intersects the axis of the journal or stud 3. By this arrangement both jaws are journaled in the body 3 of the stud and capable of complete rotation about the axis of the stud 3 without altering their relative positions, and without interfering with a change in the adjustment at the will of the operator in any position of the handle.

In order that the lever action of the handle 1 may be rendered effective upon the jaws for imparting rotation to them about the axis of the nut or bolt to be screwed up or unscrewed, some suitable means are provided for locking the handle and stud or projection 3 together, and in order that this means may be utilized for holding the handle against movement in one direction while permitting it to move in the other and thus convert the implement into a ratchet wrench, this locking means preferably consists of a pawl 13 arranged to engage in any one of a plurality of sockets or notches 14: formed in the periphery of the stud l3 and sockets 15 formed in the outer faces of the lugs 11, where they project below the cap or ring portion 12, as shown in Figs. 2 and at. The pawl 13 is beveled on one side in the usual manner, so as to be capable of sliding over the notches or sockets 14-, 15 when moved in one direction, but are securely engaged therein when moved in the other direction, and thereby compel the jaws to rotate with the handle. The pawl is formed on the end of a bar or rod 16, which may be cylindrical, and which is mounted in a passage 17 formed longitudinally through the handle 1, so as to be capable of both longitudinal and rotary movement within the handle, whereby the bar or rod may be not only moved back and forth during the ratcheting operation, but may be pulled entirely back out of the way of the notches or sockets 14, 15 when it is desired to throw it entirely out of action, or to reverse it to cause the device to ratchet in the opposite direction. To this end, the handle is formed at a point removed from the body 1 with a recess 18 in which is situated a knob 19 attached to the rod 16 by a pin 20 or other convenient means and provided on one side with 'a stop 21 in the form of a cross boss, which, when the knob 19 is in one position, will settle into a'notch or socket 22 of complementary form in the handle, and when withdrawn and given a quarter turn,

will stand across this notch or socket and prevent the pawl 13 from entering the notches 1 1-, 15. By giving the knob 19 a half turn, the pawl 13 may be reversed. If desired to prevent the implement from being used as a ratchet wrench, the knob 19 may be located in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the stop 21 situated in the notch 22. This may be accomplished by any suitable means, such as a lock nut 23 arranged on a screw threaded projection 24 on the knob 19 and adapted to be backed oh so as to engage with the opposite wall of the recess 18, as shown in Fig. 2.

The pawl 13 is yielding-1y held in engagement with the notches 14,-, 15 by any suitable spring, and the outer end of the bore or passage 17 may be utilized as a housing for this spring, which is shown at 25, the same being a simple coil spring situated in this passage between the end of the rod 16 and a plug or retaining means 26 closing the extremity of the passage. This is preferably a screw which may be removed to permit the rod 16 to be withdrawn after it is detached from the knob 19, and if desired, reversed in the passage 17, so that the plain end of the rod will engage the notches 14, 15 and thereby rigidly hold the handle against oscillatory movement in either direction un' til the rod is pulled back by the knob 19. hen the rod 16 is thus reversed end for end, the lock nut 23 need not be employed for holding it in place in the notches 14, 15. To facilitate this reversal of the rod, it may be provided at its inner end with a small transverse passage 20 for the pin 20, it desired.

I claim 1. In a wrench the combination of a body, a jaw, a projection on said jaw journaled in said body, a second jaw also carried by said projection and being adjustable with relation to the first jaw, a cap embracing said projection for holding the body and projection in operative relation, means carried by said cap for adjusting the jaws relatively, and means for holding the projection and body against relative rotation.

2. In a wrench the combination of a body, a jaw, a recessed projection carried by said jaw and journaled in said body, a second jaw adjustable with relation to the first said jaw, a cap fitting the end of said projection and between which cap and jaw said body is freely rotatable, lugs on said cap fitting the recesses of said projection, means carried by said lugs for adjusting the jaws relatively, and means for holding the body against rotation with relation to said projection.

3. In a wrench the combination of a body, a jaw, a projection carried by the jaw and journaled in said body, said projection being recessed, means for holding the body and jaw against relative rotation, a second jaw adjustable with relation to the first jaw, a cap fitting the outer end of said projection and having lugs fitting the recesses thereof, a worm situated between said lugs in said cap, and means giving said worm operative relation to the second said jaw for adjusting the latter with relation to the first said jaw.

4:. In a wrench, the combination with a handle provided with a cylindrical bearing portion, of a jaw provided with a journal portion rotatably supported in said bearing, means for releasably locking said journal in its bearing, a second jaw slidably engaging the first jaw, and. means mounted at the center of saidjournal for imparting an adjustment to the second said jaw relatively to the first said jaw, said means being movable on two dilferent axes which intersect in a point at the center of said journal.

5. In a wrench, the combination with a handle provided with a bearing, of a jaw provided with a journal fitting said hearing, a second jaw provided with a rack and slidably engaging the first said jaw, and a worm rotatably mounted at the center of said journal and engaging said rack.

6. In a wrench, the combination with a handle provided with a bearing, of a jaw provided with a laterally projecting journal fitting said bearing, a second jaw provided with a rack and slidably engaging the first said jaw, and a worm in mesh with said rack, said worm being rotatably mounted in said journal about an axis intersecting the axis of the ournal.

7. In a wrench, the combination with a handle provided with a bearing, of a jaw provided with a laterally projecting journal fitting said bearing, a second jaw provided with a rack and slidably engaging the first said jaw, and a worm rotatably mounted within the journal and having its medial transverse plane including the axis of said journal.

8. In a wrench, the combination with a handle provided with a bearing, of a jaw provided with a laterally projecting journal whereby said jaw is rotatably mounted in said handle and ofiset therefrom, a ratchet mechanism inter-engaging between the journal and its bearing, a second jaw slidably engaging the first jaw and having a shank provided with a rack overlapping a portion of the handle, and a worm mounted in the journal to rotate about an axis removed from but parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the jaws, said worm being in mesh with said rack.

9. In a wrench, the combination of a handle provided with a ring-shaped bearing, a jaw provided with a laterally projecting journal mounted in said bearing in such manner as to cause said jaw to be offset from said bearing, a second jaw in slidable engagement with the first jaw, said second jaw being provided with a rack overlapping the handle when extending in the same direction, and a worm mounted in said journal and in engagement with said rack.

10. In a wrench, the combination of a handle having a ring-shaped bearing integrallyformed on one end thereof, a jaw provided with a laterally projecting journal mounted in said bearing in such manner as to cause said jaw to be offset from the lateral face of said bearing, a second jaw in slidable engagement with the first jaw, said second jaw being provided with a rack extending across the ring shaped bearing, and a worm centrally disposed within said journal and in engagement with said rack.

11. In a wrench, the combination of a handle provided with a bearing and a plane lateral face contiguous to said bearing, a jaw provided with a journal fitting said bearing and with a plane lateral face in sliding contact with said plane face of the handle, a second jaw reciprocably mounted in the first jaw, said second jaw being provided with a plane lateral face slidably c0ntacting with the plane face of the handle ,and a screw rack in its lateral face, and a worm rotatably mounted in the'journal of thelfirst said jaw and intermeshing with said rac r.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 25th day of July, A. D. 1908.

MARTIN G. BERSTED.

Witnesses:

C. II. SEEM, FRANCIS A. HOPKINS. 

